The Solent Forum Nature Conservation Sub group was set up in 2004 its aim:

'to provide a cost-effective mechanism to coordinate the implementation of cross-cutting nature conservation actions stemming from the many overlapping statutory and non-statutory documents'

OBJECTIVES OF THE GROUP:

• To promote the nature conservation value of the Solent.
• To provide guidance on managing, protecting and improving our coastal environment.
• To coordinate nature conservation actions arising from Strategic Guidance for the Solent and other documents as identified.
• To support and complement the work of English Nature, Environment Agency, Local Authorities and other agencies relating to nature conservation management regimes and processes, such as coastal Biodiversity Action Plans.
• To inform the Solent European Marine Sites process.
• To identify and implement projects that demonstrate adaptive management.
• To establish a monitoring and management system that will identify gaps in baseline data, prioritise research and outline management requirements.
• To coordinate local community action focusing on environmental enhancement of the coastal zone.

RATIONALE FOR THE GROUP

The Solent is a unique sheltered body of water lying between the mainland and the Isle of Wight. It embraces a complex of estuaries, open inshore waters and coastal and marine habitats. It is also located at a transition between different biogeographic realms, therefore, many species within the Solent are at the limits of their natural ranges.

The Solent and its three eastern harbours can be considered as a single, huge, estuarine system comprising of four coastal plan estuaries and four bar-built estuaries. It is thought to be the fourth most important estuary in the United Kingdom because it is the largest, most tightly clustered area of small estuaries anywhere in Great Britain. The Solent and its inlets are unique in Britain and Europe for their complex tides, with long periods of tidal stand at high and low water.

The system is protected by a large number of existing and proposed national and international nature conservation designations. However, natural change such as sea-level rise and human uses, for example coastal development and shoreline management, combine to threaten these natural assets.

Since 2000, a partnership has been working on the SEMS Management Scheme: drawing up a list of activities; identifying those that have the potential to damage the site and an outline action scheme for managing the site itself. It is expected that DEFRA will be sent the Management Scheme together with any official responses from the consultation process, in June 2004.

In 2002, the Nature Conservation chapter of the Strategic Guidance for the Solent was reviewed and members agreed new actions for the Solent Forum. These included actions relating to: the protection of the natural system from long-term damage due to human activity; the use of appropriate management methods; the provision of information and encouraging support for nature conservation. It also included the harmonised implementation of coastal biodiversity action plans as well as the coordination of actions arising from the SEMS management scheme. The updated chapter identified the Solent Forum as the most appropriate coordinator for the delivery of Solent-wide actions to sustain the nature conservation value of the Solent.

In April 2003, the Solent Forum assisted in the running of a workshop on Hampshire's Coastal BAP, an outcome of which was consensus that the three coastal BAPs in the Solent should be implemented in a coordinated manner wherever possible. It is certain that some of this project work will overlap with Habitats' Regulations and other requirements.

last updated 5/9/04